SERVPRO Can Answer These Important Questions | SERVPRO® of West Kirkwood/Sunset Hills

11/20/2021 (Permalink)

You can rest easy knowing you've got the trusted leader in the restoration industry on the other end of the line. SERVPRO of West Kirkwood/Sunset Hill

Life is full of surprises, and home ownership definitely follows suit. Pipes burst, water heaters explode; it’s all very unpredictable sometimes, especially when you factor in things like tornadoes and major storms.

When something comes up that requires cleanup and restoration, you’ve got some quick choices to make—who’s going to handle it, and can you trust them to get your home set right again?

Whether you wait until there’s an active need before you think through your options, or you want to get ahead and predetermine, there are some questions you’ll need to ask to put yourself in good hands.

Are They Legit?

There’s a lot going on after a major storm or disaster event, and it leaves doors open for scammers and unscrupulous types, who feed on crisis situations and finding people in distress. If any contractor or company doesn’t have a local reputation for solid work, you should be very wary.

SERVPRO is the industry leader in recovery and restoration because we’ve built and managed a reputation that’s allowed us to grow—no gimmicks or shady tactics, just trustworthy teams and excellent care for homes and businesses. It’s allowed us to partner with prestigious organizations like the PGA Tour, who certainly have an interest in maintaining the highest standards for both facility care and integrity.

Will They Be There When I Need Help?

When a fire breaks out at home or heavy winds damage your roof, you don’t have time to sit around and wait for convenient office hours before you can talk to someone. We’re aware of this, which is why we’re ready all day, every day to get to work on your emergency.

There’s no time you can call us when we won’t be ready to answer—that’s one of the reasons we’re “Faster to Any Size Disaster.”

Where’s a Fleet When You Need One?

SERVPRO of West Kirkwood/Sunset Hills is a locally owned and operated franchise, so you get real expertise from people who actually live here and know what local homeowners need.

But when large-scale events occur or sudden surges in service activity call for some extra hands, we call on the massive SERVPRO network for backup, and scads of teams and resources become available to us.

When you call SERVPRO, you can rest easy knowing you’ve got the trusted leader in the restoration industry on the other end of the line. When disaster hits home, contact us to get our local experts and nationwide network on your side.

Why Kirkwood Home and Business Owners Trust Us | SERVPRO® of West Kirkwood/Sunset Hills

11/12/2021 (Permalink)

When you are dealing with any damage, immediate action is crucial. SERVPRO of West Kirkwood/Sunset Hills is your local restoration expert.

Being a home or business owner means holding a delicate ecosystem in balance. Everything has to be tightly managed, because if something goes off kilter, it throws everything off.

But sometimes an unforeseen event occurs that flips that balance on its side—natural disasters, fires or burst pipes are a few pertinent examples—and you’ve got something on your hands you’re not equipped to deal with.

That’s when you contact us.

We're Always Ready and Faster to Any Size Disaster

When the balance is broken, we’re ready to leap into action. We’ll be onsite faster than anyone else in the industry, because every second counts when it comes to recovery.

Wasted time means more dangerous black mold, more waterlogged carpet or a smoke smell that won’t go away. A rapid response makes all the difference, and having a SERVPRO team right here in West Kirkwood/Sunset Hills means you get the advantage of an agile local team of experts combined with the muscle and resources of the nationwide SERVPRO network.

We're Trained to Handle Residential and Commercial Services

One size doesn’t fit all, and your situation will call for specific solutions.

We’ve spent the last 50-plus years learning and crafting plans to meet the needs of millions of customers, and you can rest assured that we’ll give you exactly what you need and burden you with nothing you don’t.

We'll Make It "Like it never even happened."

While our methods are numerous, our promise is one: We’re determined to leave your home or business better than we found it, with all traces of incident removed, restored and recovered.

We Offer the Services You Need in a Changing World

In the new age of global virus consciousness, part of any business plan is customer safety. Fortunately, we’ve developed the Certified: SERVPRO Cleaned program so you can safeguard employees and customers alike, and they can walk into your business with confidence, knowing you’ve put their health above all else.

Regardless of why you need cleanup or disaster recovery, SERVPRO has the tools, the technicians and the training to get your situation under control. When you’re ready to get help from the best, get in touch with SERVPRO.

Building & Material Properties Affect the Drying Process

7/19/2021 (Permalink)

Building & Material properties will have a direct effect on successfully drying out a structure following a water damage.

Building and material science is an ever-developing field. Our industry understands more about various materials and how to dry those materials than ever before, but there is certainly more for our industry to learn. As a restorer, our understanding of how buildings are put together (residential and commercial) will determine the effectiveness of our moisture inspections, material and assembly identification, and creation of a detailed demo and drying plan. The more understanding about buildings and materials, the more issues we can anticipate (and the more surprises you can limit).

A solid grasp of building and material science separates the “novice” who simply places drying equipment and the “professional” who establishes a drying plan based on project needs and challenges.

The building’s envelope can have a profound impact on the effectiveness of the drying plan. This is more concerning when outside weather conditions are not favorable for drying (high humidity).

The building envelope separates the interior of a building from the outside environment. The building envelope can include roofs, ceilings, exterior walls, doors, windows, finished floors, and foundations. The building envelope has several purposes such as keeping out wind, rain, and ground water, as well as controlling the transfer of energy between the inside and the outside. Some people refer to this energy control as the energy efficiency of the building. Ideally, the building envelope helps maintain a comfortable temperature and humidity for occupants, while providing adequate ventilation inside. When done properly, the building envelope can help avoid problems such as mold, poor indoor air quality, and water intrusion. Because of the potential impact of energy, air, and moisture movement, even small changes to the envelope can have a dramatic effect on the entire structure.

Structures are not airtight, meaning they are going to leak air. The IICRC S500 identifies three types of building envelopes: tight, moderate, and loose. These are based on the envelopes “ability to keep the outside conditions from adversely influencing the drying environment”. The S500 somewhat defines each of these.

Tight envelope – “drying conditions can be     controlled without significant influence by the outdoors”.

Moderate envelope – “drying conditions will be influenced somewhat by the outdoors”.

Loose envelope – “drying conditions will be significantly influenced by the outdoors”.

There are several factors that help our project managers determine whether the building envelope is tight, moderate, or loose. This includes how often doors or windows are opened; as well as damage to the envelope such as roof, window, or weather strip damage. Our project managers and SERVPRO of West Kirkwood/Sunset Hills must also consider the building construction such as vapor barriers or insulation. Even the age of the structure is an indicator. Older homes (built prior to 1990) typically have a loose envelope due to the lack of focus on energy efficiency when they were constructed.

Holiday Decor, Storage, and Mold…. Surprise!

9/21/2020 (Permalink)

Area of mold was found while looking for Halloween decorations in the basement of a home in Kirkwood, MO.

As we begin to enter our closets, attics, and basements we get excited for seasonal décor and all our future company. The only down fall is that these are areas of our homes that we usually only enter a few times a year. We get out our pumpkins and scarecrows, followed by a plastic turkey or two, then finally that beautiful tree and all the totes that hold our precious memories. With that being said, we usually discover dust, possible mice droppings, and unfortunately mold!

Upon the discovery of mold or anything you think may be a form of mold, it is best to reach out to your local SERVPRO of West Kirkwood/Sunset Hills franchise. After a few simple questions, a Franchise Professional will be able to schedule and perform a proper inspection. We advise that you leave all content in place until we have properly assessed the damage. There are multiple steps that are taken when treating and removing mold.

We would begin services by providing mold containment. This would prevent the spread of mold and isolate the contaminated area. Following the containment, a certified technician of  SERVPRO of West Kirkwood/Sunset Hills  would use specialized filtration equipment to capture microscopic mold spores. This equipment may vary depending on the materials and the size of the contaminated area. Technicians would properly remove and dispose of all mold-infested porous materials, such as drywall and flooring. Finally, cleaning and sanitizing those belongings that you so desperately want to display is the last step in making your home safe and ready for the holidays! Our professionals are available 24/7 for all your restoration needs -314-858-1688.

SERVPRO Services

4/16/2020 (Permalink)

Disinfecting Local Ambulance Fleet

One of SERVPRO’s spectacular services is coming to the forefront during this crazy time we’re living in. SERVPRO has a plethora of options for commercial cleaning which include carpet cleaning, duct cleaning, general cleaning and bioremediation. During the outbreak of this Coronavirus pandemic, the bioremediation piece is more important than ever. Non-essential businesses have been shut down, and essential ones are at risk for business interruption. SERVPRO is here to help put a stop to this. SERVPRO Franchises are performing disinfecting services for this awful virus. SERVPRO is doing their part to keep businesses running and using their disinfecting services for the good of the community. Several franchises have been disinfecting our First Responders’ vehicles free of charge. SERVPRO follows the CDC’s guidelines on all of these cleans and only uses EPA registered disinfectants to get the job done. This proves that your local SERVPRO Franchise will get the job done right and get it done safely. Contact SERVPRO of West Kirkwood/Sunset Hills for any of your commercial cleaning needs. Whether that be disinfecting to keep you in business or just a carpet clean to keep your business looking fresh. Call (314) 858-1688

"Like it never even happened."

4/12/2020 (Permalink)

SERVPRO’s independently owned and operated franchises pride themselves on making a loss “Like it never even happened.” A key factor in performing mitigation to the status of like-new is the incredible equipment used by SERVPRO. Each franchise is equipped with industrial equipment to tackle a job of any size. Along with this great equipment, all SERVPRO Franchises have IICRC certified technicians with the proper knowledge to handle any loss, and the equipment needed for the project. The franchises have equipment needed for any type of loss including fire, water, mold and biohazard damages along with many others. SERVPRO possesses the necessary equipment to remove odors after a fire rather than just mask them. For water damages, SERVPRO uses multiple kinds of air movers, dehumidifiers and extraction devices to bring losses back to where they were before. This is just a tiny list of the amazing equipment used by the SERVPRO Brand to perform their mitigation services. This quality equipment and the highly trained technicians that handle the equipment are the reason SERVPRO makes even the most severe losses “Like it never even happened.”

Faster to Any Size Disaster

4/7/2020 (Permalink)

SERVPRO is Faster to Any Size Disaster

Here at SERVPRO, we have a strict set of response guidelines that make us “Faster to Any Size Disaster”. These guidelines are known as the 1-4-8 rule. 1: The one in 1-4-8 means that a SERVPRO Franchise Professional will contact you to arrange services within one hour of receiving the loss notice. 4: The four stands for the time it will take to have a SERVPRO Professional at your home or place of business. After receiving the initial loss notification, SERVPRO will have one of their qualified professionals on-site within four hours to begin services. 8: Lastly, the eight in 1-4-8 pertains to a SERVPRO Professional providing a scope of work to the responsible party for the loss. Because of SERVPRO’s 1-4-8 rule, the company makes a promise that they will be there for its customers in a time of need, and in a timely manner. This allows your home or company to be back to working condition in the most efficient amount of time. The 1-4-8 guideline is an important aspect of what makes SERVPRO “Faster to Any Size Disaster”. 314-858-1688

Removing Moisture from Materials

8/26/2019 (Permalink)

The rate at which moisture moves through materials depends upon two primary factors: the type of material affected and the degree of wetness. The type of material affected will vary in permeability (ability for water to pass through the material), hygroscopicity (ability to absorb water), thickness, density, temperature and "R" factor (resistance to heat transfer). 

Each of these characteristics will influence the way in which water travel through the material. The degree of wetness will influence the moisture movement, in combination with other material characteristics, by indicating the type of water being addressed. Water will be present in one, two or three forms:

• Surface Water
• Free Water 
• Bound Water

Surface water is readily available at the surface of a material. It is liquid, visible and will evaporate readily. All materials are capable of supporting surface water. Surface water is best removed physically using mechanical extraction equipment or other physical means. Minute amounts of remaining surface water are readily evaporated using large amounts of airflow and moderate temperature and humidity. 

Free water is present within a material but is not bonded. It exists in cavities, open pores and other air spaces within the material. It is liquid, generally visible by a darkening of the material (e.g., wood) and can evaporate readily. Most materials are capable of supporting (containing) free water. Materials not capable of retaining measurable amounts of free water are non-permeable, non-porous materials such as vinyl, vinyl composite, steel, rubber and some other solid, synthetic materials. 

Bound water is absorbed by the material and held captive by chemical bonds. It is similar to vapor in that it is not fluid, yet similar to a solid/liquid in that it is bonded to other molecules. Because it is bound to other molecules, it must first be freed before it can be removed.    

Initial Emergency Smoke Odor Reduction

4/4/2019 (Permalink)

Removing smoke odor contamination is always the first step in effective, permanent odor control. Next to establishing safe working conditions, prevention or reduction of smoke odor penetration should always be among the first orders of business when arriving to a fire-damaged structure. Odors are likely to be pronounced when you first arrive. This is because odors are most apparent when humidity and temperature are elevated - typical condition immediately after a fire has been extinguished.

Whenever possible, charred, unsalvageable materials should be removed at the outset of a restoration job to help eliminate odors and additional soiling. In most smoke odor situations, the best overall system for removal of intense smoke odors requires a combination of techniques and procedures.

Call us today for additional tips on reducing smoke odor following a fire in your home or business!

Heroes for Kids Telethon for Shriners Hospital for Children - St Louis

3/29/2019 (Permalink)

Chestnas SERVPRO Team donating the check from the 7th Annual SERVPRO Golf Tournament to benefit Shriners Hostpitals for Children - St Louis.

We joined KMOV and Shriners Hospitals for Children - St Louis yesterday for the KMOV Cares: Heroes for Kids Telethon. During this day of inspiration we heard firsthand experiences and stories from the people who make Shriners Hospital so special. Thank you to everyone who donated to Shriners Hospital - St Louis during the Heroes for Kids Telethon! Over $100,000 was donated during the telethon yesterday.

Our Shriners Hospital specializes in children's orthopedics, from simple fractures to complex surgeries. They will treat your children like their own, regardless of your ability to pay. They are working hard to transform children's lives and provide them with a brighter future.

Shriners Hospital for Children - St Louis has a special place in the hearts of the Chestnas SERVPRO Team. One of our franchise owners, Jeff Chestnas, has been a part of the Shriners Organization for over 9 years by giving back his time, efforts, and money to help this organization succeed. We happily donate to Shriners Hospital for Children - St Louis every year, by hosting our annual golf tournament. The Chestnas SERVPRO Team was able to donate $25,400 to the hospital from the 7th Annual SERVPRO Golf Tournament, and hope to surpass that number at the 8th Annual SERVPRO Golf Tournament later this year.

The tournament will be held on August 28, 2019 at Tapawingo National Golf Club. To play, donate, sponsor or help out please call (314) 858-1688 with any questions. 

Protecting your Carpet

3/27/2019 (Permalink)

Carpet that has Delaminated during Water Damage

Once the water migration edge is located, it is important to protect furniture from contact with wet carpet. Simple foam furniture blocks, foil, or plastic tabs accomplish this task. Blocking furniture accomplishes a number of important goals, including:

• the prevention of color transfer between furniture and carpet (which causes staining)
• the prevention of rust stains
• the facilitating of effective and efficient drying by elevating furniture (especially low or heavy furniture such as bookcases)

In some restoration projects it is necessary to remove the carpet pad. This process will require the Project Manager to disengage stretched-in carpeting. Because carpet loses 80%-85% of its strength when it is wet, it is vital to treat carpet as gentle as possible until it dries.

Whenever carpet must be disengaged from the tack strip, a knee kicker and carpet awl must be used. The knee kicker is used to release the tension on the carpet and move it away from the tack strip. Then, the carpet awl is pierced through the carpet's primary and secondary backing and used to lift it up and away from the tack strip. This method of disengagement effectively reduces the possibility of delamination.

Carpet is disengaged around the perimeter of the room, then rolled back in one direction to expose the pad beneath. The majority of pad has a skin or mesh on the top side. The purpose of this skin is to ease carpet stretching during installation.

Red Cross Month - Be a Hero in Your Community

3/18/2019 (Permalink)

March is Red Cross Month, a tradition begun by President Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1943. President Donald Trump has proclaimed March as Red Cross Month across the country. You can read the entire proclamation here.

During Red Cross Month, the American Red Cross asks everyone to be a hero in their community by becoming a volunteer, learning lifesaving skills, giving blood or donating to #help1family on Red Cross Giving Day, March 27.

The need to help people is constant—and the past year of busy disaster activity was no exception. For 324 consecutive days, more than 43,000 people relied on the Red Cross for emergency shelter following events like record wildfires, hurricanes, floods and large apartment fires. From April 2018 to February 2019, more than 11,500 Red Cross volunteers left the comfort of their own homes to provide comfort, care and a safe place to sleep for tens of thousands affected by disasters.

“During Red Cross Month, we honor the volunteer heroes who help families overcome life’s emergencies every day,” said Gail McGovern, president and CEO of the American Red Cross. “These champions are our neighbors—ordinary people who make an extraordinary difference to ease the suffering of others, whether it’s saving a person’s life with CPR, donating blood for a hospital patient with life-threatening conditions, or comforting a family overwhelmed by a home fire or other crisis. We ask you to consider joining these heroes to answer the call for service in your community.”

There are lots of ways you can help. Does responding to local or national disasters appeal to you? How about helping hospital patients by sponsoring a blood drive or greeting blood donors at bloodmobiles?

Would you like to support our Services to the Armed Forces program by helping patients in military hospitals and at Veterans’ Administration facilities? Is teaching something you like to do? Why not be a volunteer instructor and teach first aid / CPR / AED classes or babysitting classes?

How about helping people all over the world? Become an International Humanitarian Law instructor.  Or you could support our International Tracing Services and reunite families living overseas, in war-torn countries or even in your community.

Savvy on social media? Be an online advocate and tell the Red Cross story. Serve on local boards and help with fundraising and marketing. Be part of the behind-the-scenes Red Cross team by volunteering in our offices.

These are just a few of the ways you can make a difference as a Red Cross volunteer. To find out more, including how to apply, visit the ‘Volunteer’ information on redcross.org.

HOW YOU CAN #HELP1FAMILY Learn more about how you can help in your area by contacting your local Red Cross chapter or visiting redcross.org:

In addition to volunteering, you can:

• Give blood: Make an appointment to donate lifesaving blood or platelets.
• Learn lifesaving skills: Register for a class to learn first aid, CPR and other skills.
• Make a financial donation: On March 27—American Red Cross Giving Day—donate at redcross.org/givingday, uniting with thousands of people like you to help families during the first devastating hours of a disaster. Your gift can provide hope and urgent relief like food, shelter and other essentials for families who need it most.

Here at SERVPRO of WEST KIRKWOOD/SUNSET HILLS, we have seen these wonderful volunteers out at all times during the day and night comforting our homeowners affected by flooding or fire damages. You can also be a HERO in your community by volunteering or donating to this wonderful organization. #HEROSTRONG

Creating Customer Experiences

1/23/2019 (Permalink)

We not only take care of our "human" customers, we go above and beyond protecting their "non human" companions!

In today's high-choice marketplace, an exceptional customer experience is absolutely critical to ensuring a company's long-term growth and brand strength. A great customer experience is more than a business imperative it is now the single strongest competitive differentiator. According to Aristotle, "Excellence is not an act, but a habit." Excellence is also doing ordinary things extraordinarily well-every time.

Good service is not good enough anymore. Great service is what our customers are expecting.

SERVPRO of West Kirkwood/Sunset Hills strives everyday to exceed our customers expectations. Please check out our customer testimonials on our website. If we have had the opportunity to assist you and you would like to share your experience please visit our social media platforms and leave us a review.

We are available 24/7/365 to make it "Like it never even happened." 314-858-1688

Heating Fire Safety

1/18/2019 (Permalink)

Heating equipment is a leading cause of fires in U.S. homes. Local fire departments responded to an estimated average of 52,050 fires involving heating equipment each year in 2012-2016. These fires resulted in annual losses of 490 civilian deaths, 1,400 civilian injuries, and $1 billion in direct property damage.  The homes include one- and two-family homes (including manufactured homes) and apartments (including townhouses and other multi-family dwellings). Space heaters are the type of heating equipment most often involved in home heating fires, figuring in two of every five of these fires and accounting for 86% of associated civilian deaths, 78% of civilian injuries, and 54% of direct property damage.

• Heating equipment fires accounted for 15% of all reported home fires in 2012-2016 (second behind cooking) and 19% of home fire deaths.
• The leading factor contributing to home heating fires (27%) was failure to clean, principally from solid-fueled heating equipment, primarily chimneys.
• The leading factor contributing to ignition for home heating fire deaths (54%) was heating equipment too close to things that can burn, such as upholstered furniture, clothing, mattress, or bedding.
• Most home heating fire deaths (86%) involved stationary or portable space heaters.
• Nearly half (48%) of all home heating fires occurred in December, January and February.

Here at SERVPRO of West Kirkwood/Sunset Hills we want you to be safe this winter. If you should sustain any damages due to your heating equipment we are here 24/7/365 to help with your cleaning needs. 314-858-1688